Carl Crawford Back By End Of Month?

I was shocked listening to Buster Olney on WEEI today. He is a guy I have a lot of respect for, and when he says something it's not like he is pulling it out of his ass, so when he said...

"I think Crawford is making a lot of progress," Olney said. "In fact, based on what I heard today, I think there's a good chance that he's going to be back by the end of the month. He's right on the cusp of really ramping up his throwing program, he's hitting, he's doing all the other stuff. And let's face it, at some point, if the Red Sox figure that he's throwing well enough just to even throw to a cutoff man, you go with it. Because he's playing in Fenway, there's not a lot required, you don't necessarily have to have him throwing at full speed. We've seen a lot of teams through the years will hide a guy with an arm issue out in left field. So, if they get to the point I think with Carl where they're even 75 percent of what he usually does, I think they'll probably be in a position where they can tell him, 'Hey, we'll put you in the lineup because you're hitting, you're running and you're doing all the other things that we hope you can do for us."

That's great news that he could be back soon, yet somehow it doesn't make me feel any better. If his elbow is still an issue then he shouldn't comeback. Actually I disagree with Olney (and the Red Sox if they are thinking the same). The Red Sox should wait till he is 100%. He is here for a long time, and we have had to deal with all these nagging injuries. We don't need Crawford from last year back, we need Crawford from Tampa back. The best shot at getting that Crawford back is getting him back 100%.

Red Sox Get Pedroia Back Today

The plan is for Dustin Pedroia to return to the Red Sox' lineup Tuesday in the team's series-opener against the Orioles. Pedroia has been out since May 28th with a slight tear in his right thumb. He was struggling before the injury, which was something that was reaggravated. I think if he shows signs that he is still hurt the Red Sox should sit him. I would rather him miss a month, then get 75% of Pedroia the rest of the year.

Everyone will be keeping an eye on him, but hopefully this is just something that needed a couple days off and he can get back on track.

Bosh Out Game 3 and 4 vs Celtics

"Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters on Thursday that All-Star forward Chris Bosh will travel with the team to Boston but he will not play in Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics as he continues to rehabilitate from an abdominal injury suffered more than two weeks ago (sportsline)."

There were rumors going around last week that the Heat might be playing up the injury and that Bosh could be ready sooner then people thought. I guess that could still be the case, as there is really no reason to risk further injury with the way the Heat have been playing. Former players have come out and said they would be shocked if eh made it back this postseason, but that remains to be seen.

Another Strong Start For Dice-K

Daisuke Matsuzaka, back in the Pawtucket rotation after receiving a cortisone injection a little more than a week ago, had his second straight outing in which he gave up almost nothing. After allowing just one hit in 5 shutout innings on Saturday, Dice-K allowed just two hits in 5 1/3 innings yesterday. He allowed just one run (HR), struck out four and walked none. In his last two starts, Matsuzaka has allowed one run in 10 1/3 innings (0.87 ERA), with opponents hitting .091 against him. In 10 1/3 innings, he's struck out six and walked one.

My guess is that if Buchholz isn't the worst pitcher on the planet that the spot for Dice-K will be Bard's. Bard can only pitch so many inning this year, and we all know he is too valuable to just shut down, so I expect him to be sent to the bullpen at some point. When he does I think that's where Dice-K slides in. If Buchholz is terrible then maybe he would be sent down, and Dice-K could go there and Cook could eventually take Bard's spot, but I think option 1 is more likely.

Phillies Lose Halladay For 6-8 Weeks

"Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay is expected to miss six to eight weeks because of a right latissimus dorsi strain, the latest major setback for the five-time NL East champions. Halladay was put on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, two days after he was hit hard and pulled from a start in St. Louis after just two innings because of shoulder soreness (ESPN)."

Realy bad news for a team that relies to heavily on their rotation, because they can't hit the ball. Halladay has been starting to show his age a bit this year with a 4-5 record and a 3.98 ERA in 11 starts. This injury comes with the Phillies at 26-24 and tied with Atlanta for last in the division, four games behind Washington. With Howard and Utley still out I just don't see the Phillies being able to stay in the race. Actually, I would go as far as to say the Phillies should start looking into trading some of their rotation and begin the rebuilding process.

Jered Weaver Injures Back

Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver was unable to record an out on Monday against the Yankees, as he was pulled from the game after three batters with what has been diagnosed as a lower-back injury.

Weaver tried to stay in the game throwing a warmup pitch only to wince in pain and head for the dugout. He said after the geame it felt like someone stabbed him in the back. It is really tough to say how long Weaver will be out. It could be something simple like a nerve just got a little pitched, to something much more serious like Buchholz had last year.

This comes at a really bad time for the Angels. They are riding a 7 game winning streak and are finally back to .500. They are going to have a tough time getting back in the AL West race, but could still make a Wild Card run. Rumors is if Weaver has to go to the DL Garrett Richards could be called up, but he has over a 6.00 ERA this month, so I don't know how strong of an option that is. I guess if it's something long term they could try to jump into the Oswalt race.

Nathan Horton Injury Update

As far as his agent is concerned, Nathan Horton (concussion) should be ready to go when the Boston Bruins return to the ice in late summer.

"Nathan is coming along," Paul Krepelka told CSNNE.com via text message. "We would hope he is good to go at the start of training camp (ESPN)."

Horton missed the last 36 games last season (plus playoffs) with a concussion. Although the status of these types of injuries can change at anytime, the Bruins do sound like he should be ready to go when camp opens. This could be huge for the Bruins. Unless some major moves are made (trading Thomas/Krejci/ect) the Bruins are going to lose Chris Kelly to free agency. It's not they don't want him back, but they just don't have the cap space to bring him back. With Kelly gone, the Bruins will likely finally make the move to put Seguin at center, so you would have Krejci, Bergeron, and Seguin in center, and it would leave a glaring need for a wing to step up.

When the Bruins signed Horton I really thought he would be a 30+ goal scorer every year. I still think he has the skills to do it, and hopefully he can come back healthy and have a shot to do so. This is a big year for Horton, as this is the final year of his 6 year $24 million deal.

Bradley 'Game-Time Decision' For Game 5

The team's official website tweeted just before shootaround ended that Avery Bradley (left shoulder) was a "game-time decision" for Monday's Game 5 against the Sixers at TD Garden. Bradley did not practice on Sunday after suffering a recurrence of his left shoulder injury during the third quarter of Friday's loss in Philadelphia.

It looked really bad when Bradley reinjured that shoulder. If was just hanging to the side, and I was shocked that he could even shoot the ball. One would think it had to have got very stiff the next day and that's probably why he didn't practice. My thinking is that he plays. He has been dealing with this injury all year, and the Celtics really need him on the court. He is one of the best Celtics at one-on-one defense, and making cuts to the hoop.

Lance Berkman Tears ACL

The newspaper cited sources saying two Dodgers doctors who examined Berkman on Saturday suspected a torn ACL. While the injury no longer means the end of a career, its recovery is intense, and Berkman hinted on Sunday that he wasn't sure he'd be able to return to form after ACL surgery. Berkman had the surgery once before in 2005.

"If I've torn my ACL or something like that, I'd certainly get it fixed," Berkman told the Post-Dispatch. "But you don't know how psychologically you're going to come back from something like that. I'm not talking from the standpoint of being scared of hurting it again. I'm talking about doing everything it takes to come back and play again at an elite level. I think that's a legitimate question I'm going to have to anwer if, in fact, it turns out to be something more serious than we hope it is (CBS Sports)."

Back in 2010 when Berkman went to the Yankees I thought he was done. Then he turned around and hit 31 HRs 94 RBIs with a .301 BA and a .412 OBP with the Cardinals. It was pretty amazing, and it would be too bad if this is how his career ends. I bet he ends up coming back, but he is 36 years old and he might just not want to have to go through what it would take to get him ready to be able to play at the MLB level.

Derrick Rose Could Miss All Next Season

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose will be out approximately eight to 12 months after undergoing surgery to repair his left ACL, said Dr. Brian Cole, who performed the surgery on Saturday.

That means at minimum Rose will miss the first 2 months of the regular season, and could be out all of the regular season if it does take him 12 months. Rose was banged up all year, and you have to worry about basketball players when it has anything to do with knees or ankles. Look at what happened to Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, and Brandon Roy. Not to mention all the problems Rose has already had with his back.

The good news for Rose is that he is just 23 years old, and players have bounced back in the past, and hopefully this long layoff will also be able to get him back fixed too.

Chris Bosh Out Indefinitely

Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh underwent an MRI Monday that revealed an abdominal strain, and the team said that he will be sidelined indefinitely. Bosh suffered the injury in a 95-86 Game 1 victory over the Indiana Pacers Sunday.

From the sound of it Bosh will miss at least the rest of this series. If that is the case I still think the Heat with the series against the Pacers, but instead of this being a 5 game series I think now it will go 7 games. What I am way more interested in is if Bosh is done for the playoffs, because I do think this will now put the Celtics above the Heat (if the Celtics beat the 76ers, which I think they will in 6).

The Celtics in every way are a terrible matchup for the Heat. KG is playing better than ever, and the Heat have no one to guard him. They also have no one to guard Rondo. I think that combo would put the Celitcs over the Heat. We will have to wait and see how long he is out, but it would be pretty amazing if the Celtics get passed this round and get to play the Heat without Bosh.

Celtics Injury Update

The Celtics announced today that Paul Pierce has a sprained MCL, so I guess that explains why he was jumping like a 60 year old man last game. The team also announced that he will be playing through it and will be in the starting lineup. The Celtics also announced that there are no tears or spurs in the knee, so if the Celtics can win tonight and get him some rest I think he will be close to 100% heading into the next series.

The Celtics also said that Avery Bradley has been playing with a sore rotator cuff in his left shoulder. He also is expected to start and play in Game 6 tonight. Bradley said that he has been playing with it all season, and that it really shouldn't slow him down.

DP has a preview coming up, but I think the Celtics win by 15 points. I think Rondo has a crazy line like 22 pts, 17 asts, 11 rebs, and I think KG has a huge game (28 pts, 14 rebs).

Reason Why Rivera's Surgery Was Delayed

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who suffered a torn ACL shagging fly balls last week, also has a blood clot in his right calf and has been placed on blood-thinning medication.

“I was more concerned about the blood clot than the knee,” Rivera said at a press conference Wednesday. “For a minute I thought, ‘What else is going to happen?’ … I was scared. I never hear good things about blood clots (WEEI).”

We were wondering the reason, and this seems to be it. Makes sense since when you have a blood clot they put you on blood thinners, and that's not something you want to be on when they cut you open.

Rivera says that if he comes back next year he is going to continue to sag fly balls...

"It happened doing something I love," he said of the injury. "After 22 years of shagging, it happened."

Which is one of the funniest statements I have heard in awhile.

Rivera Surgery Delayed

"Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera (knee) "ran into complications" during his visit with doctors on Monday, his agent told the New York Post. Rivera is expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL while shagging fly balls during batting practice last Thursday at Kansas City. However, according to ESPN.com, the issues are not considered serious, but the team was unable to set a date for surgery."

This is a huge blow for the Yankees as it makes a bullpen that looked to be pretty good a lot weaker, and with a weak starting rotation the Yankees look vulnerable. I hate the Yankees more than anything, but I do hope Rivera comes back next year. He is the greatest closer of all-time and I don't want to see his career come to an end while shagging fly falls for some journeyman call up.

Rivera, for his part, has said he is coming back. I believe him. You have to question how good he will be after missing the rest of the season, and being yet another year older, but if anyone can do it it's probably Rivera.

More Concerns With Dice-K

Daisuke Matsuzaka re-started his Triple-A rehab assignment on Monday for Pawtucket. Matsuzaka lasted 4 2/3 innings for the PawSox and struck out four batters with three walks as he did not give up a run. Matsuzaka allowed just two hits in the performance in his third rehab start. Matsuzaka required 87 pitches and threw 49 (56.3 percent) for strikes. Overall, in his three starts, Matsuzaka has a 2.84 ERA, 14 strikeouts and five walks in 12 2/3 innings. He has yet to pitch five complete innings

Not bad. You would like to see him throw more strikes, but we have come to kind of expect that from Dice-K. What is concerning is there are reports that his velocity dropped during his outing, and he even admitted there are days where his elbow feels better then other days. You don't want to go overboard here, and start thinking he needs to be shutdown or anything, but I do feel this shows he needs more time in the minors. He needs to show that the elbow is 100%, because calling him up to the majors and having him push it isn't good for anyone. I am with DP that I think Dice-K could actually be a very nice addition at some point this season, but we may need to delay that a little bit.

Terrell Suggs To Miss 2012 Season

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs tore his Achilles tendon and likely will miss the 2012 season, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Thursday.

What a blow for the Ravens, reports suggest that he did it while playing basketball and that surgery is scheduled for later this week. Suggs is going to be tough to replace, he was voted NFL's Defensive Player of the Year after last season, in which he had 70 tackles, and 14 sacks. It makes the 2nd round pick of Upshaw even more important, but this is still a very big blow to an aging defense.

Dice-K Makes First Rehab Start

Dice-K made his first rehab start for the AA Portland Sea Dogs, and it went pretty damn well. Dice-K was able to 4 2/3 innings, he threw 74 pitches, 44 for strikes, and went to a three-ball count on only three of the 17 batters he faced allowed only three hits, walked two and struck out seven.

The stat line really doesn't mean as much as the fact that he was clocked consistently around 93 MPH, and was able to already throw 74 pitches. Dice-K is scheduled to pitch a total of 5 games in the minors before being called up. What happens when he is called up is a good question at this point.

The Red Sox have already said they are going to put Cook in the bullpen for now. Dice should be back the last week in May. At that point I think 2 things could happen. One, Buchholz could continue to struggle and the Red Sox will send him down to get his shit together. The other is that the Red Sox will screw Doubront and send him to the bullpen. I really don't think Bard is going to the bullpen for now. I think he is going to get his shot, and they will ride him until they give him a serious reason not to.

I think Bard will be back in the bullpen at the end of the season just because there is only so many innings he will be able to go this year, but I do think he will be a starter until at least August.

More Bad News About Carl Crawford

Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford is going to see Dr. James Andrews to have the soreness in his left elbow checked out. If you know anything about baseball you know that this is almost never good news.

Crawford already had offseason wrist surgery, and the earliest projection for his return was the beginning of May. Now with whatever this injury is he is out indefinitely. What's really scary is Bobby V is saying he is going for a "2nd opinion". Makes you wonder what they found in the first opinion. I am just praying it's not Tommy John, because that would be the season.

Sources say that it doesn't bother him while hitting, and that his wrist seems to be good, but he can't throw a baseball right now. With Ortiz being the full time DH, there is just no use for Crawford is he can't play the field.

Dwight Howard To Demand Trade At Seasons End

According to ESPN, Dwight Howard will request a trade as soon as the Magic are eliminated from the postseason. Here's what Stephen A. Smith said on SportsCenter:

"The minute this season is over, according to what I am hearing from his camp, you can expect Dwight Howard to tell Orlando. 'Get me out of here. I don't want to be here any longer. Not to mention the fact, there's one other little Cliff Note that you might find interesting. When he had his back surgery, they were talking about giving him a flight on AirTran or something like that. This is the kind of stuff that I've been told in the last 24 hours in terms of how they've treated him. He feels as a superstar, he's been treated as a scrub (Sportsline)."

I am so sick of Dwight Howard. Everyday it's something different with him. One day he is staying, the next day he wants his coach fired, the day after that he wants to be traded. There is no denying his talent. He is either the best or 2nd best big man in the game, BUT he has been a douchebag and handled this situation so poorly that you have to question how many teams feel like dealing with him.

Yet, this is in the NBA and that last part won't matter. What may matter is him coming off back surgery. A bad back for a big man, can turn into a serious long term problem.

I get that a superstar would be pissed that he is being put on some shitty flight after back surgery. I mean he is the central piece of your organizations, and they are acting like the Bengals, but after everything Howard has done I just don't care anymore. I can't stand him and hope nothing but the worst for him from this point forward. Even if he came to the Celtics I would have a hard time rooting for him.

VMart Back This Season?

The Tigers say Victor Martinez does not need reconstructive surgery for his ACL. This is actually big news as it was thought he was going to need a 2nd surgery on his knee. Now, this doesn't definitely mean he can make it back at some point this season, but for the first time since his injury there is hope he might actually make his way back. If he was to make it back it wouldn't be until September, and even that isn't all that likely, but the thought would have to have Tigers' fan giddy. Their team looks so good right now and adding VMart to that lineup would only help.